A spectacular century-old ship arrived in Aberdeen last night.
Crowds gathered to watch the Eye of the Wind arrive at the harbour – her first stop on the northern leg of her Scottish tour, and only her second visit to the country.
The journey began in Bremerhaven, Germany where she travelled to Edinburgh before sailing into north-east last night.
Onlookers were quick to reach for their cameras as the impressive 130ft ship sailed into view – its magnificent hull casting a reflection on the sparkling waters – and slowly entered the harbour, before docking at Palmerston Quay.
Sharon Cook, from Aberdeen, was one of those who went down to watch the tall ship arrive.
She said: “It was beautiful to watch her coming in, we followed it all the way round when it entered the harbour.”
The ship will now stay docked in Aberdeen until Wednesday before travelling along the Caledonian Canal, through Inverness, to the Inner Hebrides.
Speaking last night, Swiss skipper Cornelius Greth said conditions had been on the crew’s side so far.
The 34-year-old, who has captained the vessel for six years, said: “I have been to Scotland before but not with this ship.
“The journey has been very good so far, the weather has been on our side – there’s been a good wind behind us.”
The ship’s crew is made up of professionals and amateurs, who can pay to be volunteer trainees.
Andrew Pilmanis travelled all the way from Dallas, Texas to be a part of the crew.
The 74-year-old said: “I’ve always wanted to sail on a tall ship and I’ve always wanted to see Scotland, so I thought I’d combine the two.”
Beginning life in 1911 as a topsail schooner, named Friedrich , the ship passed through several different owners before a fire in 1970 threatened to spell the end of her seafaring days.
However, the vessel caught the eye of a British sailing enthusiast who bought and repaired her and gave her the grand name Eye of the Wind.
The ship’s first journey in her current guise was across the globe as part of Operation Drake, under the patronage of the Duke of Rothesay, when more than 400 crew members followed in the footsteps of celebrated explorer and scientist Sir Francis Drake.
She is now used mostly for training and cruises, but has also featured in Hollywood films such as The Blue Lagoon, 1980, and White Squall, 1996, starring Jeff Bridges.
The Eye of the Wind’s Scottish tour will finish in Oban before she moves onto England and Wales and then onto the Canary Islands and the Caribbean.